UEFA Cup winners - No blacks policy

[Matra1]

Like many fans of the sport I was left scratching my head when I found out my childhood favourite team - Glasgow Rangers - would be playing a Russian team I'd barely heard of called Zenit of St Petersburg. Glasgow Rangers are, of course, renowned as possibly the team with the most politically incorrect history (and fans) of any football team in Europe, perhaps the world. It looks like Zenit are not only Rangers' match on the pitch but surpass them in political incorrectness.

This article from the BBC has some revealing information:

Unfortunately the club also have a hard core of racists among their supporters. Zenit are the only club in Russia never to have signed a black player, and their fans were accused of racist taunts during the Uefa Cup win over Marseille earlier this season.

Marseille defender Ronald Zubar said: "They threw a banana at us and made monkey sounds."

Manager Dick Advocaat has even admitted that the fans' attitude has affected his transfer policy.

"The problem is our fans," he says. "I would be happy to sign anyone but the fans don't like black players.

"I don't understand how they could pay so much attention to skin colour. For me, there's no difference between white, black or red.

"But the fans are the most important thing Zenit have. That's why, in future, I have to ask them outright how they'll react if we sign a dark-skinned player.

"If the fans don't agree with me, I won't do it. I won't buy a player who won't be accepted by the fans."

I'm stunned that coach Advocaat would admit to not hiring black players and get away with it. (Where's the inquisition?) Adding a touch of irony to the story if you watched the UEFA Cup Final you will have seen the 'anti-racist' billboard signs flashing throughout the match! UEFA wants it known they take 'racism' seriously. Apparently not as seriously as North Americans do.

Just try to imagine an American sports coach making a statement like the one above or an American fanbase demanding an all white team. Of course, the Rangers experience shows how things can change in a hurry. When they hired their first non-Protestant player fans burned scarves and match tickets. Today those same fans are barely distinguishable from multicultural American fans - other than their willingness to
riot occasionally.

 

[Solomon Kane]

I saw the match...both Zenit and Glasgow are heavily white. Yes, I saw the nanny-state anti-racism signs (which in practice always means only anti white racism)---very regrettable. I'm pleased that Zenit frankly admits to a desire to please their fans. They are white russian fans who want to see players who look very much like them. What's wrong with that? Isn't that part of sports? Particularly profit making sports? the "racist' taunts of zenit fans seem comparably mild and non-violent. US players get bags of urine thrown at them by Mexican fans--far worse.
I would advise the black players to ignore the taunts and get on with the game.

Speaking of black players...where was the French black striker D'archeville (sp?)...He seems like a decent guy but he made a poor effort during the rangers best goal opportunity.

The 2-0 score did not manifest how close a game it was. Rangers brought about some good opportunities in the waning minutes in hopes of a tie, but alas...not to be.

Still credit to zenit, great coach, great field general, and great young players.

Hope rangers win next year.

 

[Matra1]

<i>Speaking of black players...where was the French black striker D'archeville (sp?)...He seems like a decent guy but he made a poor effort during the rangers best goal opportunity.
</i>

Jean-Claude Darchville missed an absolute sitter against Lyon in the last Champions League match. Because of the loss Rangers ended up being relegated from the European Cup to the less prestigious UEFA Cup. In fairness to Darchville he held his hand up and took responsibility for the loss - not that he could do otherwise given how truly awful, and obvious to all, was his open net miss! See below at You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnVyjzW_4Uk

But I'd rather have Darchville - who as you say seems a decent guy - than that other Rangers black player DeMarcus Beasley. Darchville made up for his horrible miss against Lyons in other matches and most 'Gers' fans will tell you that. On the other hand the overrated DeMarcus Beasley is an 'African-American athlete' in more ways than one as he has has long complained of European racism in football - not to mention US racism after Katrina.
Edited by: Matra1

 

[Solomon Kane]

Wow..that was an absolute sitter..he just had to touch the ball.

I agree with you completely about DaMarcus Beasley...a very overrated and complaining player.

 

[PhillyBirds]

Beasley plays for team USA during their matches and generally soaks up the lion's share of announcer's praise. It is usually unmerited, especailly when you have veteran white players like Landon Donovan holding down the US squad for the most part.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

The Russian Zenit team should have every right to not import foreign black players. However, if a black who was a Russian citizen clearly proved his worth to play for Zenit and was denied the opportunity by all accounts for nothing other than his race than that is not right. It would not be right over there, just as it isn't here. And the monkey taunts are very malicious, although not violent in itself. However, if I were black and someone called me a monkey to my face I would be throwing some fists down.

But still it's good to hear that over on the other side of the Ocean there is little to no caste system in soccer in most countries. I often wonder if Europeans laugh at the notion of our NFL which is 70% black in a 13% black country with not a single person of European ancestry allowed to run the ball or play CB. I sometimes wonder if that is part of the reason most Europeans aren't into the NFL; they probably think it is ridiculous.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Europeans also see a few of their teams beat the U.S basketball team in international play occasionally despite having much less a population. Yet they still see Americans make the "lack of chemistry on our team" or "the refs screwed us" excuse.

I agree a team full of American stars usually lacks chemistry, but the American stars get the same amount of time to practice together as the professional European players get with their Olympic teams. It's just that in finesse basketball where offensive fouls are called and the Shaqs of the world, or any star in truth, don't get every single call to be sent to the line, Euro's can compete.

Euro's can compete athletically and it is probably true that they often play a better team game! So if it is indeed team chemistry like the drunken U.S fans are saying. That leads me to believe that the drunken fans believe that "Europeans are less ego driven b/c they see getting their team a medal as by far bigger than any individual merit." Yet if we said this at caste football, they would call us racist. The truth is most black players probably aren't as Patriotic as some of these stars for Eurpean countries. A lot of blacks like Richard Willams and Jackie Robinson who said it himself are "a black man first and an American second."

Yet in general, the black athletic supremacy mindset is so ingrained over here that drunken fans simply can't comprehend that Europeans can play basketball on the same level as African Americans. And being competitive against the United States top defenders takes much more than team chemistry and passing precision it takes serious athleticism. The American team may not pass as well as Argentina and Serbia and Montenegro, but players like Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard can certainly defend.

It is amazing that small Serbia and Montenegro can be competitive against the U.S, but the drunken Americans and media will never give them credit for athleticism. That is why I will be rooting hard against the U.S basketball team. I will cheer for a Euro team, Argentina or Canada if they continue to have whites that get playing time other than just Nash.

There is not the same black athletic supremacy mindset over in Europe as over here. Even your average Joe Canadian is much less into the black athletic supremacy beliefs than your average Joe American. The only country in the world that you could argue has virtually the same black supremacy farce mindset in athletics as the U.S is France.Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[blue_mentos]

I agree that beasely is over-hyped, and lets not even get started on the pedestal that the media put freddy adu on, even when he was only 14. yet, he has never lived up to his expectations and everyone keeps saying 'one more year, one more year'. the one thing that i am glad to hear from announcers is that they are not afraid to talk about a white speed demon. i never hear the phrases 'deceptively fast' or 'tricky second gear' in soccer like i hear all the time in american football. for example, landon donovan is always praised by announcers for not only his skill but his physical capabilities with comments like 'always fastest on the pitch' and so on. in europe, christiano ronaldo is the measuring stick in which other players speed and agility are compared to. i find this a remarkable opposite of what the general non-soccer following american media sees.

back to zenit, great team and great win, and of course great fan support. before the cup i really didnt know much about the team, but they kept up high level of play, and whenever they manage to convincingly beat powerhouse bayern munich, it could not be denied the power of the team, and i expected the win in the finals.

 

[guest301]

I watched large parts of the under-20 Japan-France soccer match last night on the FSC. It appeared to me there was some good news on the horizon for the native french people, two thirds of the team on the pitch were white.

 

[blue_mentos]

ive been watching the toulon tourney too. and yes, good for france, their youth team is a stark contrast from their black dominated national team from the last world cup. wish the USA woulda sent a stronger squad so that we could actually compete. props to japan too, we are always under-appreciated and underestimated.

 

[guest301]

ive been watching the toulon tourney too. and yes, good for france, their youth team is a stark contrast from their black dominated national team from the last world cup. wish the USA woulda sent a stronger squad so that we could actually compete. props to japan too, we are always under-appreciated and underestimated.

I actually like watching the Japan and South Korean national soccer teams play. They play a aggressive offensive oriented soccer on the pitch and they are very fast and athletic but their lack of height does hurt them occasionally on set plays.

 

[Matra1]

I agree with guest301. The east Asian teams he mentioned like to play a short passing game that can be attractive to watch when compared to the long ball game. They do this out of necessity as they are put at a disadvantage when the ball is in the air. Their players seem to run non-stop throughout the 90 minutes. The drawback is their fans, especially the South Koreans, with their monotonous cheer from kick off to the final whistle. It's the same at the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania. It gives me a headache.

 

[guest301]

I agree with guest301. The east Asian teams he mentioned like to play a short passing game that can be attractive to watch when compared to the long ball game. They do this out of necessity as they are put at a disadvantage when the ball is in the air. Their players seem to run non-stop throughout the 90 minutes. The drawback is their fans, especially the South Koreans, with their monotonous cheer from kick off to the final whistle. It's the same at the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania. It gives me a headache.

Hey Matra, the next time you watch the South Koreans, just turn the sound down. It will keep those headaches away from you. I personally enjoy the different sounds you here when different nations other than my own are playing. I am a little tired of the Mexican ole ole ole ole chant(albeit a catchy tune) but that's maybe because Americans have stolen that chant for our own team. We should be more imaginative.

 

[cjay]

I watched large parts of the under-20 Japan-France soccer match last night on the FSC. It appeared to me there was some good news on the horizon for the native french people, two thirds of the team on the pitch were white.

many of the black players on the french national team come to france as adults to play professional soccer, then join the national team. they aren't all french born blacks. the french team will remain mostly black as long they keep doing this.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

They should really start an international rule that either you have to have lived in the country who's team you play for for at least 12 years or been a citizen for at least 7. Too many imports on these teams making the team not seem like a national team!

 

[guest301]

England beat the USA 2-0 yesterday in a friendly televised by ESPN2. Landon Donovan didn't play due to injury and Eddie Johnson started and he was virtually invisible last night. John Terry and Stephen Garrard scored for the Brits. They have another friendly against powerhouse Spain next week and it doesn't get any easier the following week against Argentina. Hopefully Landon and some of the MLS based players will be available to play more against Spain. I wasn't impressed by our European based players except for Bradley, Dempsey and Cherundolo.

 

[blue_mentos]

i agree, it was clear landon was missed up top, as johnson never seems to know what to do with the ball and wolf has well passed his prime. i would also like to see a few more mls based players as well. i would start hejduk, as i think he did the best out of the back line. i would keep dempsey, cherundalo, bradley, onyewu, and i would start eddie lewis as he impressed me with the little minutes he got to see the field. with the way robbie rogers and sasha klejstan has played in our league, i see no reason to not give them a shot, even if its off the bench. not too much us americans can take away from the game. i hope its a better result next wendsday.

 

[guest301]

i agree, it was clear landon was missed up top, as johnson never seems to know what to do with the ball and wolf has well passed his prime. i would also like to see a few more mls based players as well. i would start hejduk, as i think he did the best out of the back line. i would keep dempsey, cherundalo, bradley, onyewu, and i would start eddie lewis as he impressed me with the little minutes he got to see the field. with the way robbie rogers and sasha klejstan has played in our league, i see no reason to not give them a shot, even if its off the bench. not too much us americans can take away from the game. i hope its a better result next wendsday.

I agree with you about Frankie Hejduk, I have always liked watching that surfer looking dude play and he has world class speed on top of that! Eddie Lewis usually makes a difference with his pace and his passing and I like seeing him come off the bench around the 65th minute or so. Until the loss to England, the USA had been undefeated so far this year coming off victories over Poland and Switzerland. Spain and Argentina will be huge tests coming up.